In Evanston, Illinois in the early 1960s, 17-year-old Jimmy Reardon (River Phoenix), one of the first generation to be born and raised in the suburbs, is about to graduate from high school.His father is pressuring him to go to business school, but Jimmy wants a more exciting and adventurous life. He plans to save up enough money to go to Hawaii, where he can rejoin his high school flame, Lisa. In the meantime he writes poetry, rails against those who live "ordinary" lives, and romances his best friend's girl and his own father's lover.Despite it all, Jimmy eventually comes to understand his parents and the life they lead, and bonds with his father.